Aquarium frame

ABSTRACT

An aquarium frame serving to hold aquarium panes and consisting of profiled parts of angular cross section, which meet in miter joints at the corners and are interconnected by angle pieces inserted in grooves provided in the profiled parts. The legs of each profiled part are provided with grooves open towards the pane and capable of accommodating a projecting strip of soft plastics material, the glass pane resting against the latter. The ends of the profiled parts are provided with flanges which form an angular cavity over the apex of the structure. In each corner three profiled parts are interconnected by one single angle piece with three arms, the arms being adapted to the respective angular cavities of the profiled parts and inserted therein. The flanges of the profiled parts are pressed against bearing surfaces in recesses of the angle piece, in such a way that the profiled parts are pressed together at the corner, with prestressing in respect of the miter joint.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Josef Voss FORHGN PATENTS cac'mnsrasse 576 961,791 6/1964 Great Britain 220/s4 Germany 623 11s 7/1961 1:31 220 s4 pp No. 64,970 y [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1970 Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 Assistant Examiner.lames R. Garrett [32] Priority Oct. 14, 1969 Att rn y-Low Rinehart, Markva & Smith [33] Germany [31] P19517205 ABSTRACT: An aquarium frame serving to hold aquarium panes and consisting of profiled parts of angular cross section, 54 A UA IUM FRAME which meet in miter joints at the corners and are intercon- 2Claims,9Drawing Figs. nected by angle pieces inserted in grooves provided in the us CL 220/82 R profiled parts. The legs of each profiled part are provided with grooves open towards the pane and capable of accommodat- 1 Int Cl B6'5d 25/54 ing a projecting strip of soft plastics material, the glass pane I resting again the met, The ends ofthe Profiled pans are Field 0 Search provided with flanges which form an angular cavity over the apex of the structure. In each corner three profiled parts are [56] References Cited interconnected by one single angle piece with three arms, the arms being adapted to the respective angular cavities of the UMTED STATES PATENTS profiled parts and inserted therein. The flanges of the profiled 2,764,3l4 9/1956 Mautner 220/84 pal-ts are pressed against bearing Surfaces in recesses f the 2,783,893 3/1956 Romfmoffi X angle piece, in such a way that the profiled parts are pressed 2951613 9/1960 H 01 22081 3 152 574 on 964 St t gg- H 9/5 together at the corner, with prestressmg in respect of the miter ou v r jOlnt.

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PATENTED mu 1 1972 3,633,730

sum 3 OF 3 INVENTOIL By .702 1/039 ATTORNEYS AQUARIUM FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an aquarium frame to hold aquarium panes. The frame consists of profiled parts of equilateral cross section which meet in miter joints and are interconnected at the corners by angle pieces fitting into grooves provided in the profiled parts.

With such aquarium frames three profiled parts have to be connected at each corner rectangularly, firmly, aesthetically and without gaps. The aquarium panes must have a soft support over the entire length of the profiled parts and fit smoothly into the corners likewise.

An aquarium frame has already become known which consists of equilateral right-angled parts. The two legs of each right-angled part are provided with two narrow grooves open towards the respective glass pane. At that point in each corner connection at which two grooves are in rectangular contact with each other in the miter joint, a two-armed angle piece having thickened portions is pressed into the grooves. Six of such two-armed angle pieces are required for each comer connection, a corresponding number of working operations being involved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to provide an aquarium frame in which each corner connection is made in an operationally reliable and labor-saving manner and the glass panes fit smoothly into the profiled parts at all points, including the corner zones.

To attain this object the present invention provides an aquarium frame serving to hold aquarium panes and consisting of profiled parts of angular cross section, which meet in miter joints at the corners and are interconnected by angle pieces inserted in grooves provided in the profiled parts, which is characterized by the combination of the following features:

both legs of each profiled part are provided with grooves open towards the glass pane and capable of accommodating a projecting strip of soft plastics material, the glass pane resting against the latter;

the ends of the profiled parts are provided with flanges which form an angular cavity over the apex of the structure;

in each corner three profiled parts are interconnected by one single angle piece with three arms, the arms being adapted to the respective angular cavities of the profiled parts and inserted therein, and

the flanges of the profiled parts are pressed against bearing surfaces in recesses of the angle piece, in such a way that the profiled parts are pressed together at the corner, with prestressing in respect of the miter joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front-elevational view of an aquarium frame according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corner;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a profiled part;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of a strip of plastics material forming a support for the glass panes;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an angle piece;

FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII ofFIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section on the line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show an aquarium frame according to the invention which consists of vertical profiled parts 1 and horizontal profiled parts 2 and 3 extending in the longitudinal and transversal direction respectively. Three profiled parts meet in miter joints 3a at each corner 5 and are interconnected as shown in FIG. 3.

Each profiled part (FIG. 4) consists of two legs 11 of equal length with an oblique apex l2. Grooves 13, open towards the respective glass pane 4, are formed at the ends of the two legs 11. A strip 20 (FIG. 5) of soft plastics material is inserted by its part 21 in said grooves. The part 22 of the strip 20 projects from the grooves 13 and rests on the surfaces 14 and 15 of the profiled part. The glass panes 4 rest against the part 22 of the strip 20, as may be seen from FIG. 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, flanges 16 which extend parallel to the legs 11 and are directed towards the apex 12, are also provided on the profiled parts. The two flanges of any profiled part form an angular cavity 17 over the apex 12.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an angle piece 30 for the production of a corner connection. It is provided with three arms 31a, 31b, and 310 which are each adapted to cross section to the angular cavity 17 of a profiled part and capable of being inserted therein. The reference numeral 32 in FIG. 8 denotes an oblique apex which corresponds to the oblique apex 12 of the profiled parts.

Recesses 33 are provided on both branches of the arms of the angle piece 30. Each recess 33 is provided at its end nearest the free end of the arm with an oblique bearing surface 33a. This bearing surface 33a continues, via a rounded part 33b, in the form of the longitudinal edge of the recess 33.

In the production of the aquarium frame the three arms 31a, 31b and 310 of the angle piece 30 are inserted in the ends of three miter-cut profiled parts, until the oblique cuts rest against one another (FIG. 3). The flanges 16 of the profiled parts are then pressed into the recesses 33, on both sides of each arm of the angle piece and in one single operation, and are pressed in particular against the oblique bearing surfaces 33a of the recesses. A longitudinal tractive force is thus exerted on the arms of the angle piece, the profiled parts being consequently subjected to a pressure towards the miter cut. The profiled parts are thus firmly held together at the corner, under constant pressure.

FIG. 6 shows a flange 16a pressed into position. The manner in which the flange 16a is pressed in particular against the oblique bearing surface 33a may be seen from FIG. 9.

Owing to the oblique position of the bearing surfaces 33a the pressure forces build up systematically. The purpose of the rounded part 33b is to prevent the angle piece from breaking.

The invention offers the following advantages:

The aquarium frame is provided with durable and aesthetic corner connections that are free of gaps. Only one angle piece is required for each corner connection. The corner connections can be produced in an economical manner. Both legs of each profiled part provide, over the entire length and as far as the comer, a soft support for the aquarium glass. It is not necessary for any additional strips of paper of felt to be inserted with adhesive. A transparent watertight adhesive (silicon rubber) 4a (FIG. 6) is provided as a means of connecting the glass panes 4. These latter are able to expand adequately in the frame when subjected to pressure (water pressure) and the temperature fluctuations, as they are provided on the outside with a soft support by the strips 20 and are connected on the inside by an adhesive agent which remains elastic in operation.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed is:

1. An aquarium frame for securing aquarium panes in assembled aquarium forming relation, said frame comprising profiled parts of angular cross section, which meet in miter joints at the corners of the aquarium and are interconnected by angle pieces inserted in grooves provided in the ends of the profiled parts, said frame including the following features:

in the respective angular cavities of the profiled parts, and d. the flanges of the profiled parts being pressed against said bearing surfaces in recesses of the angle piece. whereby the profiled parts are pressed together at the corner, with prestressing in respect of the miter joint. 2. An aquarium frame in accordance with claim I, wherein the bearing surfaces are oblique and provided with rounded parts. 

1. An aquarium frame for securing aquarium panes in assembled aquarium forming relation, said frame comprising profiled parts of angular cross section, which meet in miter joints at the corners of the aquarium and are interconnected by angle pieces inserted in grooves provided in the ends of the profiled parts, said frame including the following features: a. both legs of each profiled part being provided with grooves open towards the glass pane and accommodating a projecting strip of soft plastic material against which the glass pane rests; b. the ends of the profiled parts being provided with flanges which form an angular cavity across the apex of the structure; c. in each corner three profiled parts being interconnected by one single angle piece with three arms, the arms having recesses with bearing surfaces therein and being disposed in the respective angular cavities of the profiled parts, and d. the flanges of the profiled parts being pressed against said bearing surfaces in recesses of the angle piece, whereby the profiled parts are pressed together at the corner, with prestressing in respect of the miter joint.
 2. An aquarium frame in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bearing surfaces are oblique and provided with rounded parts. 